When In-house Counsel Lisa Parker isn’t ploughing through paperwork, she’s ploughing her family cane farm at Brandon in the Burdekin Shire.
The Head of Legal at Queensland Country Bank is also a finalist in this month’s Queensland Law Society Excellence in Law Awards, showing she has found the way to balance the demands of a legal profession and life on the land.
“I do my best! It is challenging,” Lisa told Proctor when asked how she found the time to manage both the legal profession and agricultural industry in North Queensland.
Lisa helps with various jobs on the family farm.
“I have had to be very flexible with time and proactive in prioritising and completing tasks.
“A good friend and mentor once said to me, as a working mother, you can have it all but just not at the same time. I think you can have it all at the same time as long as you are willing to give up sleep!”
Lisa helps out with pumps and tractors, as well as accounts and is trades/farm assistant when needed.
Fortunately, Lisa is not alone in navigating the law and the land. There are other lawyers in the area who are involved in farming.
“I have a great local network of lawyers who are also involved in agriculture,” she said.
Burning off the cane in preparation for harvesting.
“The Burdekin has lots of opportunity for sport and the arts and I tend to catch up with local lawyers in conjunction with our children’s events (that is time management in action!).
“We do have Angela Tim So (North Queensland Toyota Cowboys) who sits on the QLS In-house Lawyers Committee who has been organising (through QLS) the northern in-house lawyers to come together for networking and education.
“I have found this invaluable and am excited about the opportunities that this will bring for us in the future.”
And camaraderie is not the only reason Lisa loves being a lawyer in a rural area.
“Being a regional lawyer is extraordinary because it offers a unique blend of impact and community connection. We often tackle a wide array of legal issues that reflect the varied needs of our region,” she said.
“This variety not only keeps the work engaging but also deepens their expertise across multiple areas of law.
“Additionally, regional lawyers often develop strong, personal relationships with their clients, gaining a profound understanding of the local culture and community dynamics. This close-knit connection allows them to provide tailored, empathetic legal advice and make a tangible difference in people’s lives.
Winter rains have delayed the burn-off this year.
“Moreover, regional lawyers frequently collaborate with other local professionals and institutions, enriching their practice and contributing to the broader regional development.”
It was Lisa’s husband Ross who introduced to the cane fields of North Queensland, although her family roots were in grazing.
“My grandparents owned an orchard in Dural, New South Wales, until my grandfather died, and I believe my descendants were sheep farmers in New South Wales,” she said.
“I became addicted to horses and wide, open spaces in my youth, and I have continued to love both of these things into adulthood.
The beauty of the Burdekin.
“Love brought me to North Queensland and my husband is a third-generation cane farmer.”
The next generation – their three young children – is also enjoying the farm lifestyle. And while farming became Lisa’s ‘other’ career, her first choice was not originally a law degree.
“During my first degree in business, I was required to complete an introductory legal subject. It was my first taste of law – I was hooked,” she revealed.
“I was originally motivated (as we probably all are) to venture into a legal career to provide justice, to create change, right wrongs and to become passionate and effective advocate for individuals and organisations who needed assistance with legal issues.
“I have since developed a real interest in engaging legal knowledge with business strategy and hence have in my most recent roles moved into in-house practice where I find it exciting to be able to make a contribution to an organisation and to watch my legal advice in action.”
And her current organisation, Queensland Country Bank, has its roots in regional Queensland – starting in 1971 in Mount Isa. While it began as a mining credit union, its reputation as a member-owned model spread. It was approached by Pioneer Sugar in the late ’70s to provide the same services for its employees.
The QCB has a strong commitment to providing regional services which is one of the reasons Lisa is proud to work there. Her own commitment to the region is also evident. She was Chairperson of Lower Burdekin Water for four years and Manager and Company Secretary of Burdekin Cane & Agriculture Organisations for two years.
Lisa combines legal and business knowledge.
And that commitment to the land is a perfect foil for the pressures of the legal profession. Put simply, getting her hands dirty is great for her mental health.
“There are so many aspects of living on the land that are great for my mental health,” she said.
“I love being outside, the physical nature of the work, the connection to the land and the challenge to create a profitable and environmentally sustainable business.”
The QLS Excellence in Law Awards will be presented at the annual gala on 24 August.
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